The Youngstown Playhouse has been a mainstay in the Youngstown community for 50 years. It is billed as the oldest community theater in the United States. But times change, and notwithstanding valiant efforts to keep the Playhouse going, grey is the color of patrons hair, and its finances are just, plain dismal. Just 10 years ago, a million dollar grant from the government allowed the Playhouse to expand and upgrade its physical plant. It is a marvelous facility. Unfortunately, it is in a bad part of town, and maintenance costs are excessive for the huge theater. The Playhouse board of directors could not afford to the heat the facility, and cancelled the winter season. It owes a lot of money to a lot of people. The icing on the cake was the roof and water damage that occurred after the shut down destroying many Playhouse artifacts, costumes, and seating.
10 years ago, when the million dollars was approved, the debate was whether to keep the Playhouse where it is currently located, or move it downtown to create a local theater district in conjunction with improvements in the Symphony Center and the Oakland Theater. In usual Youngstown fashion, the Playhouse folks got territorial rather than practical. The result: ten years later a million dollars is now flushed down the toilet.
I could not believe my eyes when I read in the Vindicator yesterday there is talk of repairing that Glenwood Avenue white elephant. If the Youngstown Playhouse wants to survive, it should sell that turkey…raise money for a new facility…move downtown and coordinate efforts with the other theater venues in the area so 3 different productions of Beauty and the Beast aren’t running in the area within 2 months of each other.
At long last it is time for the formation of a FUNCTIONING area arts council to coordinate efforts of all the activities and organizations this area has to offer. It is time for the hard headed, territorial boards that run these organizations to come together and operate in a manner to benefit the entire community.
The Playhouse people should come to their senses and look for a smaller facility and a way in which to share costs with the other area venues. If this doesn’t happen, all stand to fail.
10 years ago, when the million dollars was approved, the debate was whether to keep the Playhouse where it is currently located, or move it downtown to create a local theater district in conjunction with improvements in the Symphony Center and the Oakland Theater. In usual Youngstown fashion, the Playhouse folks got territorial rather than practical. The result: ten years later a million dollars is now flushed down the toilet.
I could not believe my eyes when I read in the Vindicator yesterday there is talk of repairing that Glenwood Avenue white elephant. If the Youngstown Playhouse wants to survive, it should sell that turkey…raise money for a new facility…move downtown and coordinate efforts with the other theater venues in the area so 3 different productions of Beauty and the Beast aren’t running in the area within 2 months of each other.
At long last it is time for the formation of a FUNCTIONING area arts council to coordinate efforts of all the activities and organizations this area has to offer. It is time for the hard headed, territorial boards that run these organizations to come together and operate in a manner to benefit the entire community.
The Playhouse people should come to their senses and look for a smaller facility and a way in which to share costs with the other area venues. If this doesn’t happen, all stand to fail.
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